Assess the view that the Nuclear family is no longer the norm. The definition of a nuclear family is a family unit that consists of a mother, father and their children, who all live together. It can be argued that the nuclear family is no longer the norm but some sociologists, like Murdock and Talcott Parsons, would argue that the nuclear family is the norm. The three different types of sociologists; functionalists, feminists and new right all have different views on the family and its importance
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The Nuclear family is seen as the traditional family and it is made up of a husband, a wife and one or more children, which can be either biological or adopted. In the family the husband is usually the breadwinner and is instrumental towards the children, where as the wife should be responsible for the housework and plays an expressive role towards the children. This is known as a 'cereal packet' family. Murdock a functionalist sociologist (1949) argued that nuclear family is a 'universal social
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The nuclear family was commonly seen in many countries of the world due to its practicality and replaced the extended family in most societies. The nuclear family is defined by George Peter Murdock as a married male and female couple raising one or more children in one household. This structure became the norm in modern society as it fulfils Murdock’s 4 functions of the family: Sexual; helps maintain a healthy and stable relationship between the parents, Reproductive; to continue the population
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Essay Assess the view that the nuclear family is no longer the norm (24 Marks) In today’s society, the family is not as big as it used to be earlier though the decades, the nuclear family at least. Many sociologists have criticised the family e.g. feminists and the way in which it is run. The Nuclear Family is known as the traditional family. The nuclear family was mainly dominant in the 1960s when most of the UK was working in factories and looking for jobs, this family type allowed families to move
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the traditional nuclear family in terms of an expressive role and an instrumental role. However, this traditional arrangement may have changed as families have changed, and many feminists use the term ‘dual burden’ to describe the woman’s role in the family today. Item 2B Government policies and laws include tax and benefit policies as well as legislation such as relating to divorce and marriage. Sociologists have different views on the impact of these policies and laws on families. For example,
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Using information from item A and else where, assess the view that ‘the nuclear family functions to benefit all its members and society as a whole.’ (24 marks) According to Item A the nuclear family is the “ideal family type.” According to Murdock the nuclear family consists of a heterosexual couple that have at least one child. Murdock is a functionalist. Functionalists argue society is based on consensus (agreed norms and values). Consensus is achieved in society through the process of socialisation
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Assess the view that ‘the extended family remains as important now as it was in the past’ (24 marks) There are different opinions regarding the importance of the extended family in modern Britain. Some sociologists such as Parsons and Wilmott and Young believe that extended families have almost disappeared completely due to them losing their functions. However some sociologists such as Charles and Wilmott say the extended family remains as important now as it was in the past, but maybe the definition
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------------------------------------------------- Scly1 Summer 2013 Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family. INSTRUCTIONS to candidates AS ESSAY – Scly1 Family/Households - 24marks – 24 minutes i.e. 2-2.5 pages average sized handwriting (2 pages typed) (AO1-10 & AO2-14) * ADD your Name/Option Group to the header * Size 12 font/calibri * Email a copy to MY. * Print /submit hard
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elsewhere assess the extent to which social policies reflect and support the traditional nuclear family. (24 Marks) Social policies are the measures taken by the state bodies and based on laws introduced by the government that aim to deal with a problem or achieve a goal. They can have both direct (aimed specifically at family life) and indirect effects (aimed on other social or economic issues but also affects the family). The traditional nuclear family is the ‘cereal packet’ family comprised
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all have our own views on what we believe to be family, whether it be the traditional mother, father and children form or the contrasting; two parents of the same sex and adopted children, we all probably would agree that a family consists of people that love each other and adults that rear and prepare children ready for adult life within society. As members of society we have our own individual views as to what constitutes as family, so do sociologists. In this report I will assess the functionalist's
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